Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Fujimura

• An overview of the Cabinet meeting
• The award of Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine to Professor Yamanaka
• The holding of the Electricity Supply-Demand Review Meeting
• The 8th meeting of the Headquarters for Promotion of Privatization of the Postal Services
• The Prime Minister's meeting with the Governor of Okinawa Prefecture and the Mayor of Ginowan City concerning the Osprey aircraft

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: Firstly I would like to give an overview of the Cabinet meeting. The meeting approved one general measure, cabinet orders and personnel decisions. With regard to statements by ministers, the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology made a statement concerning the awarding of the Nobel Prize to Professor Shinya Yamanaka, and Minister Maehara made a statement on the Nobel Prize awarded to a Japanese researcher.

In ministerial discussions following the Cabinet meeting, the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries made a statement concerning the promotion of the consumption of food ingredients from earthquake affected areas, including rice from Fukushima, at the cafeterias of ministerial and agency offices.

Next I would like to speak on Professor Yamanaka's Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Yesterday we heard the fantastic news that Professor Shinya Yamanaka of Kyoto University won this year's Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Last night Prime Minister Noda called Professor Yamanaka to personally congratulate him. The Prime Minister also released a statement on the topic. I believe that this remarkable accomplishment demonstrates, both domestically and internationally, the level of academic research in Japan, and is something of which I am very proud. I expect that we will see more future Japanese Nobel Prize winners, and as the Government, we would like to enhance relevant policies to further drive foundational research in a wide range of areas.

I would also like to speak about the Electricity Supply-Demand Review Meeting. This year, the Government has asked citizens to make efforts in reducing power consumption to ensure steady electricity supply. As a result, we have been able to reach the end of the energy-saving period without electricity shortages. I would once again like to thank all citizens for their cooperation. In April this year, the Electricity Supply-Demand Review Meeting was established in order to assess electricity supply and demand in a fair and transparent manner. As Chief Cabinet Secretary, I chair these meetings. Furthermore, the Energy and Environment Council has been established with the Minister for National Policy serving as chairperson, under which the Electricity Supply-Demand Verification Committee convenes. The Committee meetings discussed wide-ranging energy issues, including this summer's electricity supply-demand forecasts. Moving forward, these committees will review this summer's electricity supply and demand. Then, beginning Friday, October 12, the Electricity Supply-Demand Verification Committee chaired by Senior Vice Minister of Cabinet Office Shinkun Haku will once again convene to discuss this winter's supply-demand forecasts. The committee is hoping to come to a conclusion by the end of the month, and then the Government would like to swiftly finalize this winter's electricity supply-demand measures in line with committee's decisions.

I have two more topics I would like to raise. Today the 8th meeting of the Headquarters for the Promotion of Privatization of the Postal Services was held to discuss the state of Japan Post Holdings Co., Ltd. after its October 1 merger, and to hear a report on the recommendations of the Postal Privatization Committee. Additionally, the meeting advised Japan Post Holdings Co., Ltd. to work to improve operation and organizational effectiveness in order to make the most of the advantages of the merger and to ensure public benefit and regional strengths. The company was also advised to have their shares listed quickly and to complete the procedures required to enable the Government to dispose of its shares as soon as possible. It was agreed that the Postal Privatization Committee will be requested to complete reviews and assessments, as per the recommendations, of new business conducted by Japan Post Bank and Japan Post Insurance as required. The Prime Minister also asked all relevant ministers to actively work on this matter to ensure the smooth operation of Japan Post Holdings and to improve consumer convenience. Please direct any question pertaining to the matter to the Postal Privatization Promotion Office.

The Governor of Okinawa Prefecture and the Mayor of Ginowan City visited the Prime Minister's Office. Firstly, after the Cabinet meeting, the Prime Minister met with both of them for approximately 10 minutes, a meeting that I too attended. The Governor and Mayor explained the strong concerns of local people in relation to the safety and noise pollution of Osprey aircraft. We also received a written request for the discontinuation of Osprey deployment and the early relocation of Futenma Air Station. Following the meeting, the Governor and Mayor met with ministers concerned with Okinawan issues, where candid views were exchanged during a 20-minute meeting. A number of ministers have joined the Cabinet following last week's Cabinet reshuffle. Therefore, this meeting also provided an opportunity to introduce these new members. During the meeting, participants shared their opinions on reducing the burden of the bases in Okinawa and also discussed promotion and development policy for Okinawa, in addition to Osprey issues. We have informed Governor Nakaima and Mayor Sakima that we will duly consider their requests and that the Government, led by the new Cabinet, is willing to come together to address the issues faced by Okinawa.

Q&As

• The Prime Minister's meeting with the Governor of Okinawa Prefecture and the Mayor of Ginowan City concerning the Osprey aircraft
• The promotion of the consumption of food ingredients from earthquake affected areas at the cafeterias of government offices
• The Prime Minister's visit to Fukushima Prefecture

(Abridged)

REPORTER: Concerning the Governor of Okinawa Prefecture, can you please elaborate a little further on the contents of his meeting with the Prime Minister and meeting with the relevant ministers? Also, I believe today's meeting was held in response to Governor Nakaima's request to meet with the Prime Minister. What was the aim, etc. of setting up another meeting in the form of a ministerial meeting with the Governor?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: The meeting was held in response to a request received from the Governor of Okinawa Prefecture and the Mayor of Ginowan City as well as to hold a candid exchange of views on reducing the burden of the bases in Okinawa and the issues pertaining to its promotion and development. As the meeting with the Prime Minister was open to the press for the most part, I believe you heard more or less the discussions that went on. With regard to the contents, a candid exchange of views took place on reducing the burden of the bases, and separately, on the issues pertaining to the promotion and development of Okinawa. In regard to the operations of the Osprey, the Mayor of Ginowan City submitted a written request and made a formal statement. This was followed by a candid exchange of views or talks. The talks with the ministers were the first occasion for the ministers that joined the Cabinet in the reshuffle - Mr. Tarutoko, the Minister of State for Okinawa and Northern Territories Affairs, and Mr. Jojima, the Minister of Finance - to meet with the Governor of Okinawa Prefecture and the Mayor of Ginowan City. I believe this first meeting held real significance in terms of demonstrating our commitment to continuing to hold consultations with Okinawa Prefecture under this framework.

REPORTER: On a related matter, now that the operations of the Osprey have actually started, did the Governor or the Mayor express any concerns about its operations in Okinawa, for example, about the Osprey flying in vertical take-off and landing mode over a densely populated area, which I have asked about previously?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: The discussions did not go into such specifics. Exchanges were held on matters which are stated in the written request, including dispersing the operations of the Osprey to other areas in Japan, thoroughly and fully complying with the items agreed upon at the Japan-U.S. Joint Committee, and not conducting flight operations over landing strips that are adjacent to residential areas as much as possible.

REPORTER: Did the Government offer any explanations to the Governor and the Mayor regarding the U.S. forces flying the Osprey in vertical take-off and landing mode?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: As I stated, the discussions were not really about the specifics and were about matters I noted a moment ago. Among them were the items agreed upon at the Japan-U.S. Joint Committee. The Government explained that if there are problems when a meeting of the Joint Committee is held, then the Japanese Government will make a proper request to the U.S. Government to comply with the items that were agreed upon.

REPORTER: Nearly a week has passed since an inquiry was made to the United States (U.S.) through the Ministry of Defense. Since then have you received a response from the U.S. forces?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: I believe no particular response has been received as of now. The U.S. believes that it is conducting operations in accordance with the precautions noted at the Joint Committee. Therefore, when the next Joint Committee meeting is held, the Japanese Government will make specific mention of the matters as necessary.

REPORTER: With respect to not receiving a response from the U.S. forces, even from what is apparent to the media outlets, one can see that the U.S. forces are significantly breaching the contents of the agreement. What are the Japanese Government's views on the fact that it is taking so long to receive a response?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: These matters to date will be formally brought to the table at the meeting of the Joint Committee.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: Will this ministerial meeting [on Okinawa] be held routinely or regularly? Do you anticipate holding meetings between the relevant ministers and the Governor of Okinawa or the Mayor in the form of regular meetings?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: While this is not a formal meeting that is held regularly, last year, various exchanges and discussions were held from time to time with Okinawa, including the Governor, under this Government framework. I believe these form of exchanges will continue. It is not a kind of routine consultation.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: Regarding your statement earlier about using food ingredients from the earthquake affected areas, such as rice from Fukushima Prefecture, at cafeterias in Kasumigaseki [where many government offices are located], would you happen to know when this will be starting?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: There was actually already a statement made on this program at the Cabinet meeting on September 14, and I understand that this program is now being partially implemented to a significant extent. Today, the Prime Minister stated that this program will be implemented not only at the ministries but extended also to its branches. This program is already being partially implemented to a significant extent. Here at the Prime Minister's Office, we have been using Fukushima rice and various products from the earthquake affected areas from a while ago as you are aware in the sense of local production for local consumption.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: Prime Minister Noda met the other day with the workers who responded on-site immediately after the accident at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station of Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO). What was the intent behind meeting with the workers at this timing? That is my first question. Also, time and time again problems are raised regarding TEPCO's insufficient system of managing its workers. What are the opinions of the Government on this matter?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: The Prime Minister visited Fukushima Prefecture two days ago. The Prime Minister went to confirm the progress of the handling of the nuclear accident, or with a view to further accelerating the handling of the accident. At J-Village, the Prime Minister heard from the TEPCO workers, who worked on-site initially after the accident, about what when on at the time, and at the anti-earthquake building, also gave words of encouragement to the workers who are now working on-site. With regard to your latter question, the Prime Minister met with the workers in hopes that, recognizing the critical challenge to properly manage the working conditions of the workers, diligent efforts will be made to ensure that this is done in order to appropriately move forward with the handling of the accident.

(Abridged)